gerbil

noun

ger·​bil ˈjər-bəl How to pronounce gerbil (audio)
variants or less commonly gerbille
: any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping

Examples of gerbil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the second picture, the mother-son duo both looked surprised as Deveraux held a gerbil in his hand. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 People bring their iguanas, cats, dogs, gerbils, and hamsters. Joanna Solotaroff, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2024 The one who really makes the comparison to gerbils valid is the 5-year-old. Caleb Harris, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Jan. 2024 And no, wild gerbils aren’t suddenly running around the place. Caleb Harris, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gerbil 

Word History

Etymology

French gerbille, from New Latin Gerbillus, diminutive of gerboa, jerboa jerboa

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gerbil was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near gerbil

Cite this Entry

“Gerbil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerbil. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

gerbil

noun
ger·​bil ˈjər-bəl How to pronounce gerbil (audio)
: any of several Old World desert rodents with long hind legs

Medical Definition

gerbil

noun
ger·​bil
variants also gerbille
: any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping

More from Merriam-Webster on gerbil

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